Danny Vendramini's Charles Darwin page

My own much cherished 1880 edition of The Origin of Species

The  love for all living creatures is the most noble attribute of man.


1868.     'The Variation Of Animals And Plants Under Domestication.'  2 vols.    

                                                                                                                       
                                                                             

'The descent of man, and selection in relation to sex.' 2 vols. 1871.

     Emma Darwin in middle age.     

We must, however, acknowledge, as it seems to me, that man with all his noble qualities... still bears in his bodily frame the indelibel stamp of his lowly origin.

                                                               Darwin and a 'relative', supposedly comparing similarities.

From my early youth I have had the strongest desire to understand or explain whatever I observed, - that is, to group all facts under some general laws. These causes combined have given me the patience to reflect or ponder for any number of years over any unexplained problem. As far as I can judge, I am not apt to follow blindly the lead of other men.

        

                                                 1875    Etching by P. Rajon, from a portrait by William Ouless.

An illustration from 'The effects of cross and self fertilisation in the vegetable kingdom.'    1876. 

I can indeed hardly see how anyone ought to wish Christianity  to be true; for if so the plain language of the text seems to show that  the men who do not believe, and this would include my Father, Brother and almost all my best friends, will be everlastingly punished. And this  is a damnable doctrine.

                                                  1877.   Darwin at 68.